Excellent post! Growing up near Johnstown and Windber, I have often thought about southern slavery versus northern wage slavery.
Pollocks, Hunkies, Dagos, and Micks were brought in by the thousands to man the mills, factories and mines in the north.
These folks often had it tougher than the African Slaves. A slave was worth something, like any other possession it had to be maintained and cared for.
But these wage slaves were only worth what they could produce.
Their existence, and their families existence was totally dependent on their jobs.
They lived in company owned shacks, most knew very little English. Their overseers were careful to keep them segregated, so they could not unite for better conditions.
Most never saw a US mint made nickel. They were paid in script, worthless everywhere but the company store to buy food and pay rent.
If they were hurt or killed, their families were homeless and penniless.
This harsh practice was completely legal in northern states where abolitionist were shouting about the evils of human bondage!
This was continued well after the 13th Amendment was passed. Even well into the 1920s and 30s!
These folks were poor and hopeless. If they protested about it they were beaten, sometimes killed! During the war trouble makers were moved to the very top of the draft list.
Reon
